How does my garden grow?
Sun, 13 Jan 2013 6 Comments 
Do you know I uploaded that photo above on January 1? Today is January 13. I had so many plans for the few days I had off after New Years Day. Then I came down with what could only be described as a killer head cold. 5 days lost in a snuffly haze of dirty tissues and unbearable grumpiness. The very first day I felt better was the day I actually had to go back to work. Typical :)
This last week hasn't been much better with a bout of what I am assuming is arthritis in my left ankle. Nothing nicer than a week of hobbling around the office explaining to everyone that no it isn't a sprained ankle and yes I do have a doctor's appointment. Enough of my whinging though. What has been happening in the new old house? Nothing much. The veggie garden has progressed even more and we have eaten our first button squash and zucchinis. I have even given away bags of freshly picked lettuce leaves and silverbeet. I think we should be able to pick our first eggplants in a week. Yum!
The floor in the breezeway has ground to a halt. I have been too unwell and the bloody paint has proved very stubborn to remove. I have a sneaking suspicion that a high pressure hose would help but think of the mess and water inside the house! This one is a slow DIY job or perhaps we'll give in and get someone in to strip it. A 50 year old woman with arthritis shouldn't be crawling round on her hands and knees stripping floors. That's my excuse anyway.
The exciting thing was that when I was avoiding the hard dirty work of stripping the stubborn layers of paint off the floor I decided to start peeling back the paint on the old bricks ... as you do. Don't finish one job and start another. Here's a tiny peek at the first bits I peeled away. I have done more since and it looks cool. All distressed and olde worlde industrial crap like (that's a trademarked phrase in case you were thinking of using it). It is coming off very easily with a paint scraper and with the help of a wire brush I am getting old brick here and there. I'm hoping when I'm finished it will look like Anouk Cafe in Paddington. I stole these pics from here.
It has been hellishly hot all over Australia this week with heatwave conditions (days above 40 common and nights that don't drop below 25) and fires burning in many states. This is the smoke one day this week when I got home. The nearest fire was well over 75km away but the smoke was blowing in on the seabreeze. I can normally see Brisbane and mountains from my front verandah.
Apologies for not much more progress around the house. Hopefully I will have exciting news to tell you soon. About work and a new business and a change of career path. Oooops I've jinxed it now!
Reader Comments (6)
Ohhh...now I am VERY curious! :)
I hope the new career path involves bringing a little more awesomeness to the Top of Town.... Fingers crossed for you!
Maybe :)
White rabbit!
Veges look good. I've been meaning to reply to your email...too much overindulging and celebrating milestones. I'll get on to it.
xx
I just love that "industrial crap" wall!!!! Definitely worth the effort you put into it
Personally, I think it's good to start a couple of jobs at once. I often do. Then when you get fed up or frustrated with one, you can go to the other, until that passes. Otherwise things might just grind to a halt and get shelved. Good luck with your paint removal.